WWF Monday Night RAW: Live.
Hosted by Vince McMahon, Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler.
- Quick In Your House "It's Time!" Recap:
Free For All countdown show:
* Hunter Hearst Helmsley made a pass at Goldust's manager, Marlena.
* Rocky Maivia defeated Salvatore Sincere via disqualification when Jim
Cornette interfered.
WWF In Your House XII: "It's Time!"
* Flash Funk defeated Leif Cassidy via the Flash Splash.
* Owen Hart & The British Bulldog defeated Razor Ramon & Diesel to retain
the World Tag Team Titles. Cibernetico and Pierroth from the Mexican AAA
promotion appeared at ringside, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin attacked
the Bulldog during and after the match.
* Ahmed Johnson gave an in-ring interview. Faarooq appeared in the crowd
and taunted Ahmed.
* The first batch of entrants for the Royal Rumble are announced: Steve
Austin, Rocky Maivia, Mankind and Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Also The
Undertaker will face Vader.
* "Wildman" Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley via countout.
Goldust attacked Helmsley for the pass he had made towards Marlena
during the Free For All. Mero was accidentally knocked out as well, but
made it back into the ring before Helmsley to get the win. Goldust
attacked Helmsley after the match. Helmsley retains the Intercontinental
Title.
* The Undertaker defeated The Executioner in the "Armageddon Rules" match.
Mankind interferes and is maced by security guards, then put in a
straight jacket. Undertaker and Executioner brawl throughout the crowd
and out of the building. Undertaker delivers a Tombstone Piledriver for
the pin. The Executoner cannot get to his feet after a ten count and the
Undertaker wins.
* Sycho Sid defeated Bret "Hitman" Hart via the Powerbomb, following
Hart's being thrown against Shawn Michaels by Sid. Michaels was at
ringside delivering color commentary. Steve Austin and the British
Bulldog appeared early in the match as well. Hart brawled with Michaels
after the match. Sid retains the World Heavyweight Title.
- Show kicks off quickly with Bret Hart coming to the ring for an interview
with Jim Ross. He's upset over the fact that he was denied the World
Title the previous evening. He says the WWF has changed, that there are
no longer any rules. Bret says this is fine by him, and that if guys like
Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin and Sid don't have to follow any rules, then
neither does he. He calls Shawn a "little prissy" and questions why he
would promise not to interfere in his match, then turned around and did
so anyway. Bret says Shawn's motives all along have been to prevent Bret
from winning the title. He finishes up by throwing his name into the ring
as a participent in the Royal Rumble, then announces he will sit in on
color commentary during the following match... "just like Shawn Michaels!"
- "STONE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN vs. VADER
Austin is upset that Bret is at ringside, but Bret "assures" him he's
just there as an impartial commentator. Austin and Vader lock up, with a
large percentage of the crowd behind Austin. McMahon mentions that Austin
will be in the Rumble (and I belive they say Vader is in as well). Stone
Cold takes the advantage early on, sending Vader reeling with a pummeling
assault. The action spills to the floor as they go to a break.
This was another one of the WWF's "Tough Man" matches, meaning the ref
allows the competitors a great deal of leeway. Back from the break and
Vader has assumed control of the match, working over Austin outside,
inside and back outside the ring. A shot to the rail, then Austin is
tossed into the ring and set up for a Vaderbomb. Vader takes too long to
pull the trigger while bouncing on the second turnbuckle and Austin gets
up, then drops Vader to the mat with a low blow. Austin then gets Vader
against the ropes, laying in a series of stiff shots. Vader breaks it up
by tossing Austin up over the top rope and out of the ring.
As Austin is groggily getting to his feet, Bret Hart siezes upon the
opportunity to attack him from behind and slap him into the Sharpshooter.
A pair of referees are unable to get him to relenquish the hold, until
Vader comes around to that side of the ring and charges. Bret releases
the hold and meets him, standing toe-to-toe and trading blows until a
whole hoard of referees and officials can break the two up. Bret then
turns his attention back to Austin, who has tried to escape by limping
away via the opposite direction. Bret catches him and reapplies the
Sharpshooter and again a host of officials are unable to get him to
release the hold until he does so on his own.
This was a good match, but a bit on the short side. The crowd was also
behind Bret when he made his assault, but weren't quite as loud in
cheering him on as one might expect. I think perhaps he, Austin and
Vader all have fairly large followings, and some may have been a bit
worried by just what exactly Hart's attack meant. I can just imagine a
lot of parents turning to their kids and saying "no, Bret isn't a bad guy
now... he just doesn't like Austin." I think the crowd might have been a
bit louder had Austin done something to provoke Hart, instead of Hart
interrupting the match and attacking from behind. Still, it was pretty
cool to watch, and sets the ground nicely for the Royal Rumble.
- Clips from the PPV. Ahmed Johnson comes to the ring for an interview.
He says he's going to beat Faarooq at the Rumble. Guess what? Faarooq and
his possee are in the crowd. The two argue over the mics for a moment,
then Ahmed starts up the "You're Going Down!" chant.
- DIESEL/RAZOR vs. THE GODWINS
Jim Ross admits he's a bit disappointed by Razor & Diesel's progress thus
far in the WWF, mentioning a few times that the duo would have won the
Tag Team Titles at IYH had it not been for a mental mistake on Diesel's
part. McMahon mentions outright that Ross "brought" the team to the WWF.
The match itself was nothing special, amounting to little more that a
squash. Diesel Jacknifes Phinneas and Razor covers for the pin. Hillbilly
Jim did not accompany the Godwins, but other than a brief mention of that
by Ross they didn't make any kind of big deal about it (so neither should
we).
- Sid delivers comments from the lockerroom. Much is made about Sid's
defeating both Shawn and Bret via the powerbomb within a span of 30 days.
Sid says he's prepared to face Shawn in San Antonio at the Rumble, and
warns Jose Lothario not to get involved in the match.
- Shawn delivers comments. Shawn (now sporting several day's worth of beard
growth) says he's ready to take the title back from Sid. He also says
that Bret Hart could not be the Heartbreak Kid even if he wanted to ("and
I know you'd never want to" Shawn concedes).
- DOUG FURNAS/PHIL LAFON vs. T.L. HOPPER/DOCTOR X
Match is joined in progress, since it started during Shawn's interview.
Doctor X looks vaguely familiar, but I can't place him. An oddly
competitive, though short match. Hopper gets in a fair amount of
offense and X delivers a nice looking gutwrench suplex, but LaFon pins
Hopper following a sleeperhold suplex.
- JERRY "THE KING" LAWLER (w/ Hunter Hearst Helmsley) vs.
SABLE (w/ "Wildman" Marc Mero)
This is the final of the Karate Fighters Tournament. Of course Sable
wins. Lawler accuses her of cheating and demands a rematch. After she and
Mero refuse, Lawler and Helmsley jump Mero. Oh, who can save the Wildman
but...
Goldust?
Goldust charges the ring, accidentally knocking Sable down as he enters
(and I'm sure it was just an accident). He chases Helmsley from the ring
area, Mero close behind. Sable flees as well (holding the top of her
outfit together it appeared). Goldust enters the ring again as Lawler
yells "Hey... what's the big idea freak!" He then backs off and says he
has no beef with him, and that any problems between he and Helmsley are
their business. It seems that Helmsley had made a pass towards Marlena
(Lawler informs us). Lawler says Goldust shouldn't mind this because
Helmsley in wealthy, handsome, the Intercontinental Champion... and a
real man! "After all... " says Lawler "aren't you a... a... !" "A what?"
Asks Goldust. McMahon cautions that perhaps they should take a break.
"A... a... queer?" Squeaks Lawler. ("Oh well, as long as we've gone this
far... " says McMahon). Goldust looks at Lawler for a moment, then "NO!"
*POW!* Goldust smacks Lawler. Marlena then comes out as Lawler flees, and
Goldust kneels and kisses her hand. I'm not sure if this is a full blown
face turn, of if it's just the start of an all too rare heel vs. heel
feud.
- BILLY GUNN vs. BART GUNN
Members of the Gunn family are in attendance for this one (including both
wives). Not much of a match... but what an ending!
Billy is in control as he whips Bart into the ropes. Bart reverses the
whip, catches Billy off the ropes, picks him up and drops him across the
top rope, performing the Stun Gun. Billy crumples to the mat and does not
move. Bart looks on, slowly realizing that Billy isn't moving. The ref
halts the match as the ring fills with officials and the two wrestler's
wives. Billy's wife is yelling at Bart to stay back... that he's done
enough. Billy cries, begging his wife not to leave his side. Bart's wife
holds him in the corner trying to console him. The show, very much like
the Shawn Michaels incident last November, ends with little commentary as
officials and paramedics strap Billy into a neckbrace and backboard.
- Next week's main event: Marc Mero vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Bret Hart
vs. Razor Ramon.
Comments: A very good show... finally. The opener was hot, and worked up the
WWF crowd as much as one can be worked up these days. The Goldust situation
came completely out of left field. With a lack of top rank faces, a turn by
Goldust now seems a logical choice for the WWF (and one the crowd on hand
seemed to support). The collapse by Billy Gunn was, as I said, almost a
carbon copy of what happened to Shawn a little over a year ago. However,
since the circumstances behind and leading up to it are quite different, I
can only guess what the WWF has in mind. (There's always that slim chance
that it was genuine, but I doubt it). I hope it's not simply a case of "it
worked once, maybe it'll work again!"
WCW Monday Nitro: Live.
HOUR ONE: Hosted by Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko.
- Before the show can really even get underway Eric Bischoff, Vincent and
Ted DiBiase approach the announcer's booth. Eric says that he and DiBiase
will be doing the first hour. Schiavone quietly submits, but Zbyszko says
that the three of them aren't enough to get rid of him. Bischoff calls
him the "Living Has-been" as Ted removes Larry's headset. Larry ambles
off, telling Tony "I don't need this!" This gives us...
HOUR ONE: Hosted by Eric Bischoff & Ted DiBiase.
- They play a clip of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper rabbit punching Bischoff, then
they kick off the first match.
- PSYCHOSIS vs. LORD STEVEN REGAL
The match (which wasn't too bad) was almost secondary here compared to
some of the comments by Bischoff and DiBiase. Eric says that stars from
across the world are anxious to join the NWO, and that one was one hand
this evening. Eric says that New Japan Pro Wrestling would become the
minor league for the NWO. They also discuss the possibility of signing
Regal to the NWO. Bischoff also jokes about how Piper isn't his buddy
anymore. Bischoff says Hogan was in Hollywood in a meeting with Steven
Spielberg at the time Piper attacked Bischoff.
I really can't do this match justice, and a play-by-play would double the
size of this recap. It easily gets the nod as the match of the night.
Regal wins with the Regal stretch.
- Clips of Sting being mysterious in recent weeks. Bischoff says Sting is
NWO, and that he'll be facing Rick Steiner later in the show.
- BUBBA vs. CHAVO GUERRERO JR.
Bubba absorbs a lot of punishment, but finishes Guerrero off with the
Sidewalk Slam.
- Sonny Onoo brings out Masa Hiro Chono to do an interview with Mean Gene
Okerlund. It seems that Onoo is Chono's agent and that he's trying to
get him a new contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Eric and Ted chuckle
as Onoo flashes a (really sharp looking) New Japan shirt. Chono follows
that up by opening his coat and flashing an NWO t-shirt. Chono then tries
to rip off Onoo's shirt, but being unable to do that he grunts, throws
Onoo down and heads off to the ring. Bischoff says Chono is the first of
many wrestlers from New Japan to defect to the New World Order.
- MASA HIRO CHONO vs. CHRIS JERICHO
Chono isn't the greatest wrestler from Japan, but he does have cool
tights. Bischoff spends a good part of the match doing a bad Japanese
imitation. He goes on to say that "I guarantee you Inoki and company are
in shock... much the same as McMahon was when Lex Loser came on board!"
Ted says "Speaking of Lex the Loser... ." "I though you were going to
say 'speaking of' someone else, please... " Interrupts Bischoff. "I saw
that pay-per-view last night. Enough is enough! Help me!" Chono ends up
getting disqualified for hanging Jericho by one foot from the ropes on
the ring apron, then choking and kicking him. "Fire him!" Yells Bischoff,
about referee Mark Curtis. Eric and Ted also joked about Lex luger
getting chokeslammed through a table by The Giant. Funny stuff, but damn
is Bischoff obnoxious! He's really embraced his new heel role and just
wouldn't shut up.
- Another replay of Piper from last week.
- Mean Gene interviews Ric Flair, Steve and Debra McMichael and Arn
Anderson. The topic is Woman and Chris Benoit. Arn says he's ready to
handle Kevin Sullivan tonight. Flair says Chris is doing the right thing
by wining and dining Woman. Debra, who has incredibly enough become more
annoying than Steve McMichael, calls Benoit a "little boy" and Nancy a
"tramp." She also insults every other woman in wrestling by saying none
of them could win a beauty contest (like she has). Mongo calls Mean Gene
"Curly."
- DEAN MALENKO vs. DAVE SAMMARTINO
The son of Bruno Sammartino, Dave makes his Cruiserweight debut. Eric
tells DiBiase not to call Bruno the "Living Legend," or Larry Zbyszko
will come back out. Malenko wins quickly, hooking both arms and rolling
Sammartino into a pinning position. Both Bischoff and DiBiase call the
pin "questionable."
HOUR TWO: Hosted by Tony Schiavone, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Mike Tenay.
- The second announcing crew comes out. Bischoff plays to the crowd as he
leaves, then a brief "weasel" chant breaks out (for Heenan's benefit.)
- JERRY FLYNN vs. ICETRAIN (w/ Teddy Long)
Who? Is that Jerry Lynn? The "Ugh" match of the night. Icetrain tosses
him around for awhile, the Flynn gets in a little offense. Icetrain wins
by bending Flynn's leg (a heelock submission according to Tenay.)
- Syxx and The Outsiders come out and challenge the Faces of Fear to a
match later in the evening.
- More clips of Spooky Sting.
- BOBBY EATON vs. REY MYSTERIO JR.
The vast majority of this match seemed to be Eaton absorbing punishment
from aerial moves by Rey. Somehow though Eaton seems to have the upper
hand, but Rey gets the "upset" win with a Frankensteiner off the top
rope. Eaton's best match in some time.
- Lee Marshall phones in another useless report from Macon, Georgia.
- The latest video from Woman and Chris Benoit. This time they're close to
snuggling, sucking down vino and making plans to go to Paris. This was
actually... kinda steamy. "Oh... we didn't need to see that!" Opines
Schiavone. Kevin Sullivan strides to the ring growling that they
shouldn't have played that tape. This angle has turned out pretty
sleazy... and I'm loving it!
- KEVIN SULLIVAN (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs. ARN ANDERSON
Immediately spills to the floor and the ref works very hard to ignore the
two grapplers beating each other up with a steel chair. Fight briefly
goes through the crowd as well. Back in the ring and the ref gets dazed.
Arn is dazed as well, stumbles about, bumps into the ref and DDT's him.
Sullivan then grabs Arn and hangs him from the Tree of Woe. He tries a
charge to lay in a knee, but Arn stops him with a chop to the gonads. Arn
then sets him up for a DDT, but is interrupted by Hugh Morrus, who
recieves the DDT. Next out is Konnan, but he's stopped by a blow from Arn
on the apron. Jimmy Hart then climbs into the ring as Konnan hands
Sullivan a wooden chair. Arn tries to put Hart into the DDT, but Sullivan
nails him on the back, shattering the wooden chair. Sullivan covers him
for the pin as Hart rolls the groggy ref over to make the count. Steve
McMichael shows up too late as the Dungeon of Doom exits. Quite the wild,
brutal brawl.
- RICK STEINER (w/ Scott Steiner) vs. STING
Scott Steiner again has that same silly black outfit on. It must be the
only one he has. Sting comes down from the rafters again. Moments later
he appears in the crowd and makes his way to the ring carrying a baseball
bat. Then from the other direction comes a second Sting. The first Sting
(the NWO Sting with the bat) holds apart the ropes for Sting to enter the
ring. The two Stings, in identical Crow makeup, stare at the Steiners,
then the real Sting turns to stare at the NWO Sting. NWO Sting holds his
bat against Sting's chin. Sting then produces a bat of his own from his
coat and disarms NWO Sting. Scott Steiner gets the bat. Sting then tosses
his bat to Rick Steiner. The two Stings then turn their backs on the
Steiners. Sting quickly slaps on the reverse DDT, dropping the NWO Sting
to the canvas. Sting leaves, and again no match takes place.
- Hogan, Giant, Liz, Vincent and DiBiase come to the ring. Hogan gets on
the mic and challenges Piper to come out. Schiavone explains that Piper
isn't even in the building. Yadda yadda yadda and Hogan finishes up by
posing for the crowd.
- THE OUTSIDERS vs. FACES OF FEAR
Both teams come out and begin to brawl around the ring, in and out. The
match only lasts a minute or two as other wrestlers start appearing in
the ring. First some of the Dungeon of Doom arrive, led by Sullivan. Then
some of the other NWO members come out. Hugh Morrus, Konnan, Syxx,
Vincent, then Big Bubba who enters the ring and attacks Sullivan, thus
turning on the Dungeon and showing his alliance with the NWO. Marcus
Bagwell and M. Wallstreet show up. The Giant as well. Then the WCW
regulars arrive: Steve Regal, Psychosis, Malenko, Sammartino, Flynn, Rey
Mysterio, in short-nearly everyone who wrestled on tonight's card. The
Icetrain comes to the ring and is attacked from behind by Scott Norton,
in what is a sign of another defection to the NWO. Finally Sting makes
his way to the ring. Once in, he begins to push other competitors apart.
Arn Anderson, questioning which side Sting is on, takes a swipe at Sting.
Sting slugs Arn, dropping him to the mat. Mongo McMichael jumps Sting
with a few shots, but Sting blocks them and sends McMichael reeling. Rey
Mysterio launches off the ropes onto Sting's back. Sting catches him and
slams him to the canvas, then makes his way out of the ring. After a
moment where most of the wrestlers in the ring watch him depart, the
brawl begins anew. Bobby Heenan is yelling on the mic for TNT to give
them another half hour as the show fades to black.
- Next week's main event: None announced.
Comments: The first hour was pretty good, but the second hour was fairly
flat until the chaotic ending. I didn't think they could outdo last week's
finish, but they did. I get the feeling that some of it came off the way it
did in direct response to what RAW offered tonight. The Sullivan/Anderson
match in particular. Had RAW not shown the Austin/Vader match, I don't think
Sullivan and Anderson would have worked such a stiff and brutal fight.
Overall, the best Nitro of what has been a string of pretty good ones. Not
only did we see Chono join the NWO, but Bubba as well, and possibly even
Scott Norton. It looks like several of the lesser heels in WCW will be
making the jump to the NWO. Add in New Japan's involvement and the NWO angle
is finally starting to reach that point where it has moved beyond a simple
"Outsider Invasion" or "Hogan's Last Attempt At A Dynasty" and is starting
to feel like the building of a new, separate wrestling organization.
Bottom line: As far as I'm concerned, both feds have improved in their
offerings. Starrcade has the makings of a decent PPV (it's main event
aside). The WWF looks to be building to yet another good Royal Rumble.
This week's winner: Nitro. I was originally going to give it to RAW, but in
the course of writing this I felt it was Nitro that I really enjoyed the
most. It was really close though. I'd still give RAW the nod when comparing
it to just the first hour of Nitro. The Sullivan/Anderson match and the
final melee are what put Nitro over the top.